Iraqi Government Increases Benefits For Journalists

BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi government has extended benefits for journalists as a response to request of the Journalists Union this week, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq reports.

Iraqi Journalists Union Chairman Moayyad Allami says that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki instructed the cabinet to expedite the allocation of land to every full-time journalist officially registered as a union member.

According to Allami, Iraqi Airways has informed the Journalists Union that a 50 percent discount for Iraqi journalists would be effective within days.

Other benefits provided to journalists by the government include a cash grant and free bedroom furniture to newly married journalists, as well as free medical care abroad for cases that cannot be treated in Iraq.